Following the sad news of Tony Macedo's passing, Club Historian Alex White has penned an obituary for one of Fulham's finest ever 'keepers.
One of Fulham’s greatest ever goalkeepers, Elio 'Tony' Macedo was born in Gibraltar on 22nd February 1938 and arrived in the UK with his family as a two-year-old. He was spectacular, brave and acrobatic, and more like a continental goalkeeper than a typically English one. He was often brilliant but very occasionally prone to mistakes. Tony was the son of a Spanish international who played for San Sebastian and Real Madrid during the 1930s. He attended Burghley Road School (Tufnell Park) and represented St Pancras & Middlesex Schools. When he first broke into the Fulham side in December 1957, Tony was flown from Germany, where he was doing his national service, to play for the Club.
Macedo appeared 37 times as he helped Fulham to promotion to the First Division as runners-up during season 1958/59. He was outstanding in Fulham’s two cup runs to the Semi-Finals of the FA Cup in 1958 and 1962, but had an off day in the replay at Highbury against Manchester United on 26th March 1958 when Fulham were defeated by 5-3, and when the Whites lost to Burnley 2-1 at Filbert Street in a Semi-Final replay in April 1962.
Macedo was the regular goalkeeper during the Club’s First Division days, and he also gained 10 England Under-23 caps and was unlucky never to have received a full international cap. Tony was ever-present in the side during season 1962/63 but had a knee operation during the summer and this had become inflamed again in the opening fixture defeat at Everton. He did not return to the side for three months, then was the first choice again until December 1965 when manager Vic Buckingham selected Jack McClelland instead of Tony.
He made his final appearance for the Club on 4th May 1968, when we drew 2-2 at home to Southampton in the final home game of the season, with Tony having made 391 League, FA & League Cup appearances for the Whites. Macedo was transferred to Colchester United in September 1968 for £5k, where he made a further 40 league and cup appearances. He then received a good offer to go and play in South Africa and joined Durban City, and later played for Highlands Park. Macedo lived in Johannesburg for many years, running a car business before moving to Australia in 2011. He visited Craven Cottage in August 2011 for the last time en route between the two countries.
